7 for 11: Top 7 Moments of One Word 2011

Written by on December 27, 2011 in Blog, hearing God, One Word 2011 - 2 Comments

Almost a year ago, I jumped on the One Word bandwagon and focused. Not on being a better mom or organizing my closets or creating a budget (which is what my normal New Year’s Resolutions would fail sound like). Instead, with my friend Alece’s prompting, I listened carefully for one word: one word that would represent what I believed God was calling me to in 2011. For me, that one word was: Joy. You can read back on those posts here. I didn’t blog a ton about it, but I certainly thought about Joy often, reminding myself, disciplining myself, to remember that Joy is not optional for the Christian…it is a trait of our regenerated souls that we must pursue with serious intention. Joy is what sets us apart from those tossed by life’s storms, and Joy is popular. People like Joy. They want to be around Joy. They want to find out where you got your Joy…..Joy leads people to Jesus, especially when it exists outside, or despite, your circumstances.

So as I reflect on a year of Joy, I remember several moments that made my heart sing. I didn’t do Joy perfectly, or even well. But what I feel most about my year of Joy is that I experienced growth. And I think that’s what God was after all along!

(drumroll please):

Top 7 Joy-Moments of 2011:

–A book!

For some, it won’t feel like a long journey. But for me, a shortcut-loving, grade-skipping, three-kids-in-five years kinda girl, working and waiting and working and waiting and waiting and waiting for the right time and the right project and the right publisher was torturous. (the good torture, the kind that drives you to your face in prayer). So that day, when my agent called me (she was even stunned) to offer me the dream-contract with dream-publisher…well, that was some serious joy. And it was made even more sweet because of the waiting, the face-prayers, the wondering if God had indeed forgotten. Indeed he had not. To find out more about the book (coming out in May 2012), read back here.

–Olivia. 

After the book came the hectic, frantic ninety days of writing. Amazing to think that all that wondering and waiting would lead to a sprint of a manuscript. And in the middle of that, Olivia. I blogged about her here if you want to catch the story. The story is long and not mine to tell, but Olivia fought hard and I think I saw a miracle. The moment when I went to visit her and she said my name and gave me a hug was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever experienced. I’ll hold onto that moment forever. I’ve never prayed like that for anyone, or witnessed such love and compassion from a family brought together in that tragedy. I love that girl. She has made an amazing recovery and has already been accepted into college. She’s still waiting to hear from her #1 school….as is often the case, I’m finding that much joy is often accompanied by some pain.

–raising nearly 25K for Feed My Starving Children

In February of 2010, I tried to take a challenge I heard about through Keri Wyatt Kent’s book, “Simple Compassion”. I was blogging through a year of spiritual disciplines and the idea of fasting to make poverty more real was appealing. On a whim, I invited blog readers to join me. You can read about that 5 day challenge here. By contributing our grocery money that we would have spent that week, our small blog community donated about $1,000 to Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit devoted to feeding the “least of these” around the world.  So when my entire church took up the challenge during our missions emphasis this May, I was thrilled. The response was incredible. Our community was deeply affected by the simple act of going without, and we raised almost $25,000 for FMSC. Joy.

–holy moments at The Great Escape

In June, I helped lead a trip of fifty middle schoolers to Cleveland, TN, for a week of fun, bonding, teaching and worship with hundreds of other campers through The Great Escape. There is a moment captured in my brain like a picture during that exhilarating and exhausting trip. Being with middle schoolers is a “herding cats” experience 99% of the time, and we had finally ushered them into their seats as one of our meetings began. At some point during the worship set, I turned and watched my group. Tears filled my eyes as I looked across the faces of these little ones unashamedly lifting their hands and their hearts to the Lord. There is something very special about witnessing the next generations rising up to meet the Lord–both the middle schoolers and the college students and twenty-somethings that gave their time and energy as counselors. Deep Joy. 

–gospel moments while teaching

This year I had the opportunity to teach in many new places. I preached a sermon, I spoke at a few weekend retreats, I facilitated some workshops. I taught a series to our college students this summer and did my normal thing each week with our student ministry. And as cheesy as it sounds, I experienced God in every one of those settings. God made me to find Him when I ask questions and when I get to share those discoveries. He’s given me a great love for new connections and a joy at encouraging people, even ones I barely know. And I know that He’s done that for each one of us: whether it’s preparing a meal with love or leading a business with integrity or running or painting or holding a baby. Where you feel love–there He is. Where you lose track of time, lost in wonder–there He is. That is sustainable joy, and I’m thankful for so many memories of it in 2011.

–Daily joy moments in mothering

Maybe I chose joy as my word for 2011 because I find myself losing it in the mundane of mothering. Even though my kids are a ton of fun, they are also a lot of work, and at the bottom of it, I’m selfish. I like things my way in my timing and on my turf. Raising young kids has been a struggle! Choosing joy this year, though, gave me enough pause to experience those moments that I never want to forget. Gripping my camping chair in agony as I watched Charlie play goalie and make some incredible saves. Watching Cameron while holding my breath as she performed in her first “mock” gymnastics competition. Trying not to laugh (or cry) when my son Desmond asked the sweetest questions about life, faith and love. I’ve realized that mothers have incredible power. Not necessarily to control their children’s every move, but to bring joy into a home. That old saying, “when momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy…” It’s true. Being a happy mom is a very good thing, even if it takes the power of Jesus to take over my soul and make joy and peace in the midst of the mess.

–Tough mudder

There’s near-death experiences and miracles, ministry, poverty, writing, mothering…and then there’s competition. I don’t know if I should be embarassed to put this on my list but I’M NOT. Tough Mudder was an awesome race and an awesome day. It was so hard! But in the challenge there was team work, new experiences, and pushing yourself to do things you didn’t think you could do. It was cold and wet and dirty and tough and amazing. I could barely walk for four days after. But I loved my team, loved the day, and loved being a part of something adventurous, ridiculous and FUN.

So for now, I’m remembering the year that was and thinking ahead to the year that’s to come. I’m waiting and listening for what God wants to grow in me next. I encourage you to join me, focusing on a One-Word Resolution for 2012. Read more about it on Alece’s blog or stay tuned to add your one-word to our community for 2012!

 

 

 

Catalyst Conference: Seth Godin

Written by on October 11, 2010 in hearing God - No Comments

So, Cody didn’t think much of Seth Godin.

In Cody’s defense, he had been at Catalyst since the beginning; I missed the first morning so I was a little “fresher” than he was and I thought Seth’s talk was totally fascinating. Here’s some of my takeaways:

#1: Life is driven by the economy we live in. We must understand this as communicators and leaders.

#2: School was created to teach kids how to be obedient. They were “never taught how to solve interesting problems.”

#3: The best change and making a difference is about solving problems. We need to accept others, do what matters, and create art.

 

This guy is a genius. His passion for learning, life, and drawing out conclusions through culture and history were inspiring. I left his session feeling like I wanted to be smarter, solve a good problem, and think much bigger about life, the church and what it can accomplish than I currently do. 2 Thumbs Up. (I think Cody’s thumbs were up, they were just propping up his sleepy head).

And P.S. If you are a blogger, Seth writes one of the most widely read blogs out there. Check it out and pick up some tips.

Catalyst Conference: Christine Caine

Written by on October 9, 2010 in hearing God - No Comments

Going to a conference like Catalyst is amazing, awe-inspiring, and–a little overwhelming. To hear from so many amazing people (Beth Moore and Francis Chan back-to-back!) in such a short amount of time makes it easy to forget to soak in all that I heard. So this week I’m going to give you some bite-sized wisdom from some visionary men and women, starting with Christine Caine. 

#1: The girl can preach. Just sayin’…

#2: “I, the rescued, have a responsibility to be a rescuer.”

#3: Christine told a story about her daughter, giddy about her new flashlight, flipping it on in a bright room and being disappointed that “nothing” happened. Then Christine told her daughter that she needed darkness to see the light. Her daughter replied “let’s find some darkness!”
As Christians, we shouldn’t run from the darkness, but go find some…He is greater than he who is in the world!!

Find out more about Christine Caine on her website, or even better, check out her organization to fight trafficking, the A21 Campaign.

Guest Post: World Wanderer Jen Otterbein on “Disconnected”

Written by on August 19, 2010 in Guest Bloggers, hearing God - No Comments

Today I ran down to the lake near University of Richmond and discovered it’s freshman orientation time! I’ve noticed freshman at college orientation always a. look nervous and b. travel in packs. Many Augusts ago, I was also a nervous-looking, pack-traveling freshman, along with my hallmate, Jen Otterbein. Jen was a sassy blonde from New Jersey who talked as fast as she acted, with the smarts to back it up. Through seasons as varied as the fashions since college, Jen and I have remained soul sisters, and I’m so proud of who she is. Today Jen returns from a four month stint in Peru, following her heart and God’s call to missions. I’m so glad to introduce her! You can follow her travels over on her blog. But for now, here’s Jen:

Disconnected

Early last week, I was commenting to my roommate, Grace, that I felt like I was spending too much time on the computer – checking e-mail, looking at Facebook, trying to stay connected to my world back in the States. Don´t get me wrong, I think the modern convenience of technology is awesome. I am living in Peru, but I can keep updated on the daily lives of friends and family through a plethora of tools through the Internet. I can even talk to people for free while actually seeing them on my computer.

But one of my goals for my experience this summer is to spend more time in seeking God in prayer, in reading and in quietness.

Another is to fully commit to the experience of being here and living in the community of San Juan.

Both of these goals mean less time mindlessly poking around the Internet. Of course, in this age of super-technology, that is easier said than done.

I don´t know if God overheard my conversation with Grace (and if He agreed with my assessment of my overuse of time on the Internet), but on Thursday my computer crashed. “Crash” isn’t the right word, because that would assume that it had turned on. But it didn´t. And in one split second, I felt completely cut off from my world. No e-mail, no Facebook, no Skype. Gone was my music, my documents, my pictures. How in the world can I be so dependent on technology that this felt like a monumental disaster in my life?

I have to admit, it was not a very good moment for me. With my computer muerta (dead), I felt completely disconnected. From life here, from life in the States, and I have to say, from God and this journey that I am travelling on. Feeling disconnected is not fun. For me, it is a mixture of feeling tired and lonely, but also guilty and challenged for feeling tired and lonely. I love everything that I am doing here in Lima. I work with a group (Peace and Hope) that is challenging and educating communities about different social issues in this society. In just a few weeks, I have: taught at seminars on Women´s Rights and Domestic Violence; shared bible lessons on our identity as children of God; translated for a seminar on investigation of child abuse cases; and played with street kids living in a center in my neighborhood. I have also met some tremendous Christian servants who live and love unconditionally in extremely poor areas in San Juan. In the midst of the struggles they face on a daily basis, how could I be reacting so strongly to something that definitely was not a crisis?

So I took a step back and asked God to reveal to me what he wanted me to see. In the midst of this “crisis” I was having, I decided to write down the blessings that were surrounding me. This was the list that I wrote in my journal:

  • Karen, the secretary at our office, for calling her computer guy and bringing me to his shop.
  • Anna, another friend at the central office, for getting me in touch with the computer techs there, and for letting me stay the night at her place on Thursday when they were still trying to fix my computer. (We had an awesome conversation!)
  • Genaro, a colleague at our office, for being so concerned about this gringa that he took a taxi into the main office with me (over an hour away!)
  • Arturo, who tirelessly worked on fixing my computer Thursday night and then all day Friday as it crashed again.
  • Jaime and Anna for introducing me to Sanwichon – a huge Peruvian style sandwich.

I realized that I was never truly disconnected. God has always been faithful in providing people that care for me wherever I am in the world. Sometimes, it is difficult to remember that in the midst of challenging circumstances. But although we may feel disconnected, God never disconnects from us. Maybe He uses those moments that we feel disconnected to help us focus on other things He is doing in our lives.

True to his faithful nature, God gave me a great weekend of fellowship. I was able to let out some frustration from the end of the week during a conversation with my roommate. On Saturday, I had a great time playing with a group of street kids living at a home near my house. That night, I was able to talk to and play volleyball with some teenagers in another community. As for my computer, it is up and functioning. And with its new Peruvian programs, it is now bilingual…which makes me smile. :)

God Speaks Through Playdough

Written by on March 22, 2010 in hearing God - No Comments

Remember playdough?

For some, you may be reaching back to childhood memories..the sound of cracking open a new can, the colors, the very distinct but not unpleasant smell, and the endless ways to shape and mold it.

For others, you are reaching no further than under your kitchen table, in the couch cushions, and into the “playdough ice cream machine” to curse, er, I mean remember, what playdough is all about. I fall into this camp.

But despite the mess, there is something so appealing about playdough, particularly the homemade kind. You start with five or so ingredients, which on their own, resemble nothing close to the final product. Flour. Cream of Tartar. Salt. Water. As you add heat and stir, what was a liquid becomes a solid. Moldable, Pliable, and ready for whatever your imagination can handle. Usually, I am limited to snakes, eggs in a bird nest, and breakfast foods.

God speaks to me through playdough. He takes a bunch of raw ingredients with us. He puts them together and adds some heat. He stirs us gently, creates something new. And his creativity, unlike mine, is limitless.

So make some playdough. Heat it up, knead it into a smooth pliable form. Think of what happens to playdough when it’s not taken care of properly. It crumbles. It cracks. It dries how it was left and it’s not moldable any longer. Ask yourself this:
Am I pliable to God’s work in my life?
Are there areas where I’ve become hard and unmoldable?
Am I willing to let him mold something new?
Am I OK if his planned work of art is not what I expected?

God speaks through playdough. Our retreat speaker this weekend, Alicia Britt Chole, told me “God is amazingly flexible with how He speaks.” Where will you hear him today?

“Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.
“Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?” God’s Decree! “Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you, people of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:4,6 MSG

Hearing God

Written by on March 15, 2010 in Daily Life With Jesus, hearing God - No Comments

Last week I challenged you, dear reader, to reflect on if, and how, God speaks to you. Here’s some of your responses:

Becky says…

perhaps we hear God in ways that are consistent with our temperaments [if we love nature, we find him there, if we love study, we find him there, etc.] So, it is okay that we don’t always hear Him in the same way that others do, but I also think we can hear Him the same way if He chooses/if we are open, etc.

After Marji’s talk last night about not overindulging your kids, one of the women at my table said she had just had that exact experience with her son that evening before coming – he asked for something and she said no, and he got upset. . . . so it was affirmation (God speaking to her) when Marji mentioned it in her talk.

This is what Margaret Feinberg termed “The Sacred Echo.” That God whispers to us and then echos that whisper, through confirmations in all manner of ways. God, who is the ultimate Creator, can certainly use everything in His creation to echo his voice…from a sermon to a sparrow.

And from Diana:

The issue for me is not hearing him, but listening to Him and heeding his counsel…

God has continually spoken to me and warned me on making poor choices or walking down a path that is not meant for me. But I chose not to listen to Him. I used His gift of free will poorly and chose not to hear Him. It is only when I am committed to prayer and to my daily devotionals that I am able to hear Him clearly. It is when I block out the words from Satan, the words from naysayers, and all of the other noise, that I can listen, learn, and put His guidance into action.

How right Diana is! How often do we lollygag around, waiting for some definitive command, when God has given us plenty to work on right in his word. Today I celebrated being able, with a great dose of God’s love, to be patient and kind to my children before dropping them off at school at 8:50. To be a reasonably loving mother for just two hours, I needed more than my natural strength. I needed God’s power to obey just the simplest of commands. Diana’s words about the difference between hearing and heeding God are a great reminder of what we are to do each day.

And then from Nancy:

I think we need to be reminded frequently that God does speak to us in a variety of ways, and we can hear Him IF we are listening. I can remember two big times when God spoke to me: once when I was feeling VERY alone and abandoned by those I thought I could trust, I didn’t hear God so much as felt His loving arms around me, comforting me! A second time Rick and I were seeking God’s will about a new mission field. My concerns were worldly one, you know, food and shelter, but God showed me clearly through His word that He was going before us to “slay the giants in the land”! And He did!

So Nancy has felt God both on an emotional and intellectual level. The feeling of his love and the truth of his word. But here’s the thing: I know Nancy. She is a woman who seeks hard after God, for years and years. And although I’m sure there are other times in her life where she’s felt God in a big way, only two came to mind. Two…but when the God of the universe interrupts your existence, it should be enough for a lifetime.

Your turn: Has God ever interrupted you in a big way? If it was long ago, does it ever feel like not enough? Have you wished you would hear Him more?

Hearing God

Written by on March 15, 2010 in Daily Life With Jesus, hearing God - 1 Comment

Last week I challenged you, dear reader, to reflect on if, and how, God speaks to you. Here’s some of your responses:

Becky says…

perhaps we hear God in ways that are consistent with our temperaments [if we love nature, we find him there, if we love study, we find him there, etc.] So, it is okay that we don’t always hear Him in the same way that others do, but I also think we can hear Him the same way if He chooses/if we are open, etc.

After Marji’s talk last night about not overindulging your kids, one of the women at my table said she had just had that exact experience with her son that evening before coming – he asked for something and she said no, and he got upset. . . . so it was affirmation (God speaking to her) when Marji mentioned it in her talk.

This is what Margaret Feinberg termed “The Sacred Echo.” That God whispers to us and then echos that whisper, through confirmations in all manner of ways. God, who is the ultimate Creator, can certainly use everything in His creation to echo his voice…from a sermon to a sparrow.

And from Diana:

The issue for me is not hearing him, but listening to Him and heeding his counsel…

God has continually spoken to me and warned me on making poor choices or walking down a path that is not meant for me. But I chose not to listen to Him. I used His gift of free will poorly and chose not to hear Him. It is only when I am committed to prayer and to my daily devotionals that I am able to hear Him clearly. It is when I block out the words from Satan, the words from naysayers, and all of the other noise, that I can listen, learn, and put His guidance into action.

How right Diana is! How often do we lollygag around, waiting for some definitive command, when God has given us plenty to work on right in his word. Today I celebrated being able, with a great dose of God’s love, to be patient and kind to my children before dropping them off at school at 8:50. To be a reasonably loving mother for just two hours, I needed more than my natural strength. I needed God’s power to obey just the simplest of commands. Diana’s words about the difference between hearing and heeding God are a great reminder of what we are to do each day.

And then from Nancy:

I think we need to be reminded frequently that God does speak to us in a variety of ways, and we can hear Him IF we are listening. I can remember two big times when God spoke to me: once when I was feeling VERY alone and abandoned by those I thought I could trust, I didn’t hear God so much as felt His loving arms around me, comforting me! A second time Rick and I were seeking God’s will about a new mission field. My concerns were worldly one, you know, food and shelter, but God showed me clearly through His word that He was going before us to “slay the giants in the land”! And He did!

So Nancy has felt God both on an emotional and intellectual level. The feeling of his love and the truth of his word. But here’s the thing: I know Nancy. She is a woman who seeks hard after God, for years and years. And although I’m sure there are other times in her life where she’s felt God in a big way, only two came to mind. Two…but when the God of the universe interrupts your existence, it should be enough for a lifetime.

Your turn: Has God ever interrupted you in a big way? If it was long ago, does it ever feel like not enough? Have you wished you would hear Him more?